AVERATEK CORP — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: X224-OCSO1

Description

As the Department of Defense and the Air Force continue to invest in next generation hypersonic aircraft, advanced sensors, and novel 5G/IoT electronics, there is a need for novel antennas and surface materials that are resilient to the harsh environments of hypersonic speeds, while maintaining communications with satellites, other aircraft, GPS, and weapons systems. Future Next Generation Air Dominance platforms and hypersonic aircraft systems currently in development by the Air Force are critically dependent on Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) reductions, however, they are just as impacted by operational and environmental considerations.  Hypersonic aircraft in particular require the ability to operate within an extreme temperature range, must endure significant shock and vibration, and durability under vacuum, radiation, and UV.  Averatek’s next generation of high performance, 3D non-planar antennas allows for a wide range of materials through enhanced chemical and mechanical adhesion that permits successful operation under such conditions, while simultaneously reducing fabrication cost, complexity, and manufacturing time.